Maria Byrne (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I was speaking earlier in the Seanad so I was not here for the presentations but I did read Mr. Twomey's opening statement. There are three pharmacists and a pharmaceutical assistant in my family so I regularly hear about the issues facing pharmacists. I pay tribute to pharmacists across Ireland for their supporting role and work during Covid because pharmacies were the only places open almost every day. Some pharmacies were open seven days a week. When people could not get access to GPs or hospitals, they relied on their community pharmacists so they deserve a big "thank you" for that. The role they played was vital.

I was thinking about the minor ailments scheme or triage. Some people might present to a pharmacist and discover they need a bottle of Gaviscon. They might go to their doctor to get the prescription and then have to come back to the pharmacist to dispense it because they have a medical card. Is there any way in which pharmacists could be given prescribing rights for minor treatments? I know it would require legislative change. I think this is what the witnesses are saying regarding triage and the minor ailments scheme because I have seen people who have gone to the pharmacist, discovered they needed something minor, looked for a doctor's appointment, were facilitated by the doctor, took up the doctor's time and then had to come back to the pharmacist so they could get the medicine on their prescription.

Regarding the shortage of medicines, I see with one or two older people I help who live near me that they might get one brand this month and another the next month. It is very confusing for older people. Have the witnesses any ideas how this can be addressed? I understand that sometimes the brand they are used to getting might not be available. A neighbour of mine rang me up one day asking me to come down because they did not have a clue what was in the product. I am not a pharmacist but I had to look for the same word on both packages to see if it was that medicine.

I support the witnesses' call for a chief pharmaceutical officer. We have a chief dental officer. Have the witnesses had any discussions with the Department and has it been receptive or are things going nowhere?